I was texting with (the unstoppable) Chrisie Canny last night about a September event we're planning to support the Merchants of Third Avenue (stay tuned for deets!), when she mentioned that there was a Grateful Dead cover band playing up the way at 7pm. Our little pug, Dolly, has been to one friend-filled rock n' roll show in her adorable 3 years, and I asked her if she wanted to swing by her second concert ever on our evening walk. She blinked a few times which I took as a yes, so we strolled on up Shore Road's winding sidewalk, sloping through the lush green space notched into the ridge, glimpsing the sunset shimmering on the water of our very own Brooklyn Riviera, and landed at the playground with its basketball courts and frog-shaped spray fountains and twisty slide and a field full of folks soaking in tunes on a sweet July evening. 

 

Tomorrow is the first day of August and time is a sprinting jack rabbit. We know we'll never capture that ephemeral beast, but we're always thinking about ways we can savor it more thoroughly. Good company and pleasurable sensory experiences help. We enjoy rosé year-round, if the moment strikes, but its time to shine is summer toward which our attitude is it ain't over 'til it's over.

 

Rosé came about back in the early history of Greek winemaking because field blends using both red and white varieties were the standard and many people, especially peasants, added water to their wine…maybe we should note this as the origin of the session drink?  

 

Rosé eventually made its way from Greece to the south of France where anything with enough clout eventually becomes fashionable. We've choosen our selection with careful whimsy- a caché that we think is brimming with treasures this season, from deep dark cherry rosato to chiseled, saline chiaretto to classic Provençal, to zippy Txakolina, to heady Mediterranean Tavel and Bandol. 
 

Speaking of heady, this Friday is the second Summer Stroll on the south side of Third Avenue and from 4-6 pm we'll be warming it up with another Tie Dye-Nosaur themed pre-stroll tasting- you'll find more info below. We hope you'll join us!

$19

The Riverland, located just north of Adelaide, is the largest wine growing area in Australia with plenty of pockets of microclimates. This is moscato made the way it's supposed to be- youthful and zippy with notes of nectarine, pear, honey, frangipani (that's a flower!), and a touch of sweetness. 

$32

A blend of red and white varieties- Malvasia, Moscadella, Insolia and Nerello Mascalese harvested from the slopes of Italy's active volcano, Mount Etna, and made by a guy originally from Belgium who is recognized as a pioneer in the natural wine movement. You'll find rich red fruit, hints of rose petal, a note of bitter herbs, and volcanic minerality throughout.

 

$21

Pinot Noir and Gamay harvested from the limestone, clay, and sand-rich soils of the Loire Valley's Cheverny. Sustainably farmed, manually harvested, and gently pressed. With just a touch of skin contact, the result is vibrant yet delicate, silky as a raindrop.